Two rural Dorset schools are proving that size and location are not a barrier when it comes to offering extracurricular activities to their pupils.

Thanks to a partnership with local charity Dorset Community Transport, Spetisbury CE Primary School and Cerne Abbas CE VC First School are showcasing what is possible if safe, affordable transport is available.

Shulay Erim, support services manager at Spetisbury Primary, says schools like hers are often restricted from offering a broad range of activities.

“We don’t want to ask parents to cover the school’s transport costs,” she said. “Typically, we would have to hire very expensive coaches which would end up being half empty, or we would have to rely on staff cars, which would mean staff away from school.”

Andrea Schaefer, administration assistant at Cerne Abbas, added: “Because of where we are located, we can’t do anything or go anywhere without transport. And since it’s such a small school, it’s not possible to have our own bus.”

Thanks to the partnership with the DCT, both schools are able to provide a wide range of different activities for their students. At Spetisbury Primary, pupils are taken for regular swimming lessons, choir rehearsals at other schools, special science and maths activities, and more.

Shulay said: “DCT’s drivers have taken children in the green minibuses to golfing festivals at Milton Abbey and tag rugby festivals in Bournemouth.”

“Last Christmas, they very kindly didn’t charge us for a trip to Spetisbury Manor Care Home where the children sang for elderly residents. So DCT is a real asset in a community where you have small primary schools like ours.”

Tim Christian, general manager at DCT, said: “Both of these schools show that being small and rural doesn’t mean you can’t make a big impact on behalf of your pupils, particularly when you have a partner like us to help get the children out and about. Shulay and Andrea are great examples of the people working behind the scenes, like our own admin staff, who play a really important role in making a difference to their community. “We’re always keen to speak to new schools who might find our support helpful for extending the activities they offer to their students.”